Interactions of ketamine, naloxone and morphine in the rat

The effect of naloxone on the ketamine-induced anesthesia and analgesia, and the development of tolerance to ketamine and the cross-tolerance to morphine (measured by an analgesic effect) were investigated in the rat. Ketamine produced a dose-dependent analgesia. Naloxone, 1 mg/kg, significantly inhibited analgesia induced by ketamine, 100 mg/kg, but even in a dose of 4 mg/kg it did not affect the duration of anesthesia. A chronic administration of ketamine (100 mg/kg twice a day (b.i.d.) for 7 days) resulted in the development of tolerance to analgesic effects of ketamine. The analgesic action of morphine was attenuated in rats receiving ketamine chronically, while the analgesic effects of ketamine were significantly potentiated in morphine-dependent rats. Ketamine, 25 mg/kg, significantly attenuated the withdrawal signs evoked by naloxone in morphine-dependent rats. The results corroborate the suggestion about the participation of the central opioid neurotransmission in the mechanism of ketamine action.